Package and method for producing the package

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a package ( 1, 1′, 1″, 1″′, 100 ) formed of a sheet ( 10 ). The package comprises a first sealing region ( 2 ) extending in a first direction and a second sealing region ( 4 ) extending in a second direction which is substantially parallel to the first direction, the first and second sealing regions ( 2, 4 ) being spaced apart a first distance. Further, the package comprises a third sealing region ( 6 ) extending in a third direction which is substantially perpendicular to the first and second directions and a fourth sealing region ( 8 ) extending in a fourth direction which is substantially parallel to the third direction, the third and fourth sealing regions ( 6, 8 ) being spaced apart a second distance. Two or more of the sealing regions ( 2, 4, 6, 8 ) each comprise at least two layer portions of the sheet ( 10 ) which are at least partially joined together, the first and second sealing regions ( 2, 4 ) are arranged on a first side ( 12 ) of the package and a second side ( 14 ) of the package opposite to the first side ( 12 ) is formed by a continuous portion of the sheet ( 10 ). Further, the invention relates to a method for producing the package ( 1, 1′, 1″, 1″′, 100 ).

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a package formed of a sheet and to a method for producing the package.

BACKGROUND ART

A tubular-bag pack for articles in bar form, such as chocolate bars, which is made of a film-like packaging material is disclosed in US-A-2011/0266180. The pack has a front packaging side, a rear packaging side comprising a longitudinal seam, and two transverse seams transverse to the longitudinal seam disposed at a distance from each other. Two separating regions, each having a separable longitudinal seam, are arranged in the two edge regions of the front packaging side, forming an opening label that can be partially detached from the pack.

The pack is formed by unrolling a planar flexible packaging material web from a feed roll, folding the web and severing the web so as to form a central packaging material web strip and two lateral packaging material web strips located on either side of the central packaging material web strip. By applying pressure to the packaging material web strip in a region where the central packaging material web strip overlaps the two lateral packaging material web strips, the strips are separably sealed by way of strips of cold adhesive applied to one side, thereby forming the separable longitudinal seals on the front packaging side. Subsequently, the packaging material is wrapped around a product to be packaged and sealed at the rear packaging side by a further longitudinal seam in the form of a fin seal.

The pack and the method disclosed in US-A-2011/0266180 have the drawback that packaging material web strips have to be cut off from the web and subsequently reapplied thereto, resulting in a complication of the manufacturing process. In particular, prior to reapplying the packaging material web strips, an accurate alignment of the strips has to be performed. Further, an additional longitudinal seam is present at the rear packaging side of the pack, affecting both the stackability and the optical appearance of a packaged product and leading to an increased material consumption.

WO-A-88/00562 discloses a chocolate package having two longitudinal sealing seams on a front side thereof and one longitudinal sealing seam on a back side thereof. The two sealing seams at the front side are formed by folding the packing material and sealing two layers of packing material together at their inner sides. One flank of each of these two sealing seams may be provided with a break line of the packing material along which the material is torn when the package is opened. Alternatively, the edges of the folds forming the two longitudinal sealing seams on the front side may be cut off to enable opening of the package by peeling off the seals of the folds.

Also the package disclosed in WO-A-88/00562 has the disadvantage of a longitudinal sealing seam formed on a back side thereof. This additional seam affects the optical appearance of a packaged product, impedes an arrangement of a plurality of packages in a stacked configuration and leads to an increase in material consumption. Further, both of the longitudinal sealing seams disposed on the front side of the package have to be provided with a cut or a break line, thus complicating the manufacturing process.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been made in view of the problems identified above and it is an object of the invention to provide a package with improved stackability which enables a reduction in packaging material consumption. Further, the invention aims to provide a method for producing such a package. These goals are achieved by a package with the technical features of claim 1 and a method with the technical features of claim 15. Preferred embodiments of the invention follow from the dependent claims.

The invention provides a package formed of a sheet, wherein the package comprises a first sealing region extending in a first direction and a second sealing region extending in a second direction which is substantially parallel to the first direction, the first and second sealing regions being spaced apart a first distance. Further, the package comprises a third sealing region extending in a third direction which is substantially perpendicular to the first and second directions and a fourth sealing region extending in a fourth direction which is substantially parallel to the third direction, the third and fourth sealing regions being spaced apart a second distance. Two or more of the sealing regions each comprise at least two layer portions of the sheet which are at least partially joined together, the first and second sealing regions are arranged on a first side of the package and a second side of the package opposite to the first side is formed by a continuous portion of the sheet.

Herein, the term “continuous portion” defines a portion of the sheet which is integrally formed of one piece of material. That is, the continuous portion is configured in an uninterrupted manner, not comprising any connection seams or the like where two portions of material are joined together.

Since, in the package according to the invention, the second side of the package is formed by a continuous portion of the sheet, the package can be stably placed on a plane surface and a plurality of packages can be readily arranged on top of each other in a stacked manner. Further, due to the absence of any connection seams or other material joints at the second side of the package, less packaging material is required for manufacturing the package, thus enabling a reduction in material consumption, Moreover, since the second side of the package is devoid of any structures protruding from the package surface, the optical appearance of the package is considerably improved.

The package of the invention may be formed of a single sheet. In this way, the manufacture of the package can be further simplified and the material consumption can be kept at a minimum.

The sheet may be made of a flexible material. Any type of flexible material may be used for the sheet. For example, the flexible material may be a film, a foil, a web or the like, e.g., made of plastic, metal, paper etc.

Alternatively, the sheet may be made of a semi-rigid or rigid material, such as cardboard, paperboard or the like.

The thickness of the sheet may be in a range from 0.1 to 1.0 mm, preferably 0.3 to 0.8 mm. The package can be manufactured using conventional package forming equipment, such as vertical or horizontal form fill seal equipment.

The package of the invention may be, for example, a bag, pouch or the like, and can be used for containing therein any type of liquid or solid materials. In particular, the package may be used for packaging food products, such as sweets, chocolate, cookies, biscuits, gums, candies, nuts, savoury snacks, coffee beans, coffee powder etc.

The first and second sealing regions may each comprise at least two layer portions of the sheet which are at least partially joined together. In one embodiment, each of the sealing regions comprises at least two layer portions of the sheet which are at least partially joined together. Further, one, two, three or all of the sealing regions may comprise three or more layer portions of the sheet. In this way, the rigidity of the sealing regions can be further enhanced. In particular, the first and second sealing regions may comprise three or more layer portions of the sheet which may be at least partially joined together.

Herein, the term “first distance” is defined as the distance substantially in the third direction between a centre of the first sealing region and a centre of the second sealing region. The term “second distance” is defined as the distance substantially in the first direction between a centre of the third sealing region and a centre of the fourth sealing region.

The first to fourth sealing regions may be arranged so that the first distance is substantially equal to, larger than or smaller than the second distance. Outer edges of the first and/or second sealing regions may be arranged so as to coincide with respective outer edges of the first side of the package. Alternatively, the outer edges of the first and/or second sealing regions may be arranged so as to be spaced apart from the respective outer edges of the first side of the package in the third direction. That is, the outer edges of the first and/or second sealing regions may extend beyond the respective outer edges of the first side by a predetermined distance or may be arranged inside those outer edges, spaced apart from the edges by a predetermined distance.

The first and second sealing regions may extend from the third sealing region to the fourth sealing region. However, alternatively, the first and second sealing regions may extend only along a part of the second distance between the third and fourth sealing regions. The third and fourth sealing regions may extend from the first sealing region to the second sealing region.

In one embodiment, the first and second sealing regions may be arranged on the first side of the package in a centred manner, i.e., so that a distance between the outer edge of the first sealing region and the respective adjacent outer edge of the first side of the package in the third direction is substantially equal to a distance between the outer edge of the second sealing region and the respective adjacent outer edge of the first side of the package in the third direction. In another embodiment, the first and second sealing regions may be arranged on the first side of the package off centre, i.e., in such a manner that a distance between the outer edge of the first sealing region and the respective adjacent outer edge of the first side of the package in the third direction is different from a distance between the outer edge of the second sealing region and the respective adjacent outer edge of the first side of the package in the third direction,

Moreover, the package may be configured such that a product or a plurality of products to be packaged are to be arranged in the package in a centred or an off centre manner.

The first sealing region may be arranged at the centre of the first side of the package, i.e., so that a distance in the third direction between an inner edge of the first sealing region and the centre of the first side of the package in the third direction is substantially zero. The second sealing region may be arranged at the centre of the first side of the package, i.e., so that a distance in the third direction between an inner edge of the second sealing region and the centre of the first side of the package in the third direction is substantially zero.

The first sealing region may be arranged off the centre of the first side of the package, i.e., so that the distance in the third direction between the inner edge of the first sealing region and the centre of the first side of the package in the third direction is greater than zero. The second sealing region may be arranged off the centre of the first side of the package, i.e., so that the distance in the third direction between the inner edge of the second sealing region and the centre of the first side of the package in the third direction is greater than zero.

The first and second sealing regions may be arranged at the centre of the first side of the package. The first and second sealing regions may be arranged off the centre of the first side of the package. The first sealing region may be arranged at the centre of the first side of the package and the second, sealing region may be arranged off the centre of the first side of the package. The first sealing region may be arranged off the centre of the first side of the package and the second sealing region may be arranged at the centre of the first side of the package.

The first sealing region and/or the second sealing region may be arranged so that at least a portion thereof substantially lies flat on the first side of the package. This portion of the first sealing region and/or the second sealing region may be attached to the package, e.g., by use of an adhesive, such as by use of a double sided adhesive tape or a hot-glue, by heat welding or the like.

In this way, the amount of protrusion of the first sealing region and/or the second sealing region from the first side of the package can be reduced, thus further enhancing the stackability of the package. In particular, the first sealing region and/or the second sealing region can be kept substantially flat during opening and resealing of the package. Further, the rigidity of the opening and resealing area of the package can be enhanced.

When resealing the package, the attachment of at least a portion of the first sealing region and/or the second sealing region to the package may help to align the resealing area and reduce the formation of creases or wrinkles in the first sealing region and/or the second sealing region, thus providing a reliable hermetic reseal and further improving the protection of a packaged product.

The first sealing region and/or the second sealing region may be arranged so that at least a portion thereof substantially lies flat on the first side of the package by tilting the first sealing region and/or the second sealing region outwards in a direction parallel to the third and fourth directions. In particular, the first and second sealing regions may be tilted outwards in opposite directions which are parallel to the third and fourth directions.

The first sealing region may further comprise a line of weakness extending in the first direction, assisting a consumer in opening the package. In particular, the line of weakness facilitates rupturing of the first sealing region along the first direction, so that at least a part of the sheet material forming the first side of the package is torn open, providing access to the package contents.

The line of weakness may be a perforation and/or a score line and/or a cut or the like extending in the first direction, In particular, the first sealing region may be provided in the form of a fold portion in which the edge of the fold is cut off along part or all of the extension of the first sealing region in the first direction. This configuration enables a particularly easy opening of the package. On the other hand, if a perforation and/or a score line are used as the line of weakness, they may act as a tamper evidence feature for determining whether or not the package had been tampered with, e.g., previously opened and closed again.

In one embodiment, the second sealing region is formed at two substantially parallel edge portions of the sheet. Hence, the outer edge of the second sealing region is configured by the edge portions of the sheet and thus open along the extension of the second sealing region in the second direction. In this way, the opening process of the package is further simplified. In particular, if the second sealing region is configured in this way and the first sealing region comprises a line of weakness extending in the first direction, a strip of the sheet material, extending in the first direction, is defined between the outer edge of the second sealing region and the line of weakness of the first sealing region. When opening the package, this strip may be partly or fully removed from the package by peeling it off in the first direction, thereby providing access to the package contents.

The strip of the sheet material may be arranged at the centre of the first side of the package, i.e., so that a distance in the third direction between the centre of the strip in the third direction and the centre of the first side of the package in the third direction is substantially zero. The strip of the sheet material may be arranged off the centre of the first side of the package, i.e., so that the distance in the third direction between the centre of the strip in the third direction and the centre of the first side of the package in the third direction is greater than zero.

Moreover, since the second sealing region is formed at two substantially parallel edge portions of the sheet, thus having an open outer edge along its extension in the second direction, no additional line of weakness has to be provided in the second sealing region for facilitating the opening of the package. Therefore, the process of manufacturing the package is further simplified.

The first and second sealing regions may be configured such that, after opening of the package, the remainders of the first and second sealing regions assist in retaining the package contents in the package. In particular, the first and second sealing regions may be configured such that the remainders thereof have to be moved apart from each other in the third direction by a consumer in order to enable removal of the package contents.

Such a capability of the package to retain its contents after opening thereof may be achieved, for example, by choosing the first distance between the first and second sealing regions to be sufficiently small. In particular, the first distance may be chosen such that a distance between inner edges of the first and second sealing regions in the third direction is substantially zero. In this case, the package contents are securely retained within the package after opening thereof. In order to access the interior of the package, the remainders of the first and second sealing regions can be moved apart from each other by a consumer.

In one embodiment, the two substantially parallel edge portions of the sheet are at least partially joined together so as to form a fin seal, i.e., a sealing seam in the form of a fin. Such a configuration allows for the formation of a particularly simple and reliable seal in the second sealing region.

In the sealing regions, the at least two layer portions of the sheet may be at least partially joined together using any suitable type of method or material, such as heat welding, cohesive materials, adhesive materials, such as a pressure sensitive adhesive, e.g., cold seal, or the like. In particular, in each of the first and second sealing regions, the at least two layer portions of the sheet may be at least partially adhesively joined together by a resealable adhesive, such as a pressure sensitive adhesive, e.g., cold seal. In this case, the package may be resealed after opening by reattaching the torn portions of the package material using the resealable adhesive. This configuration of the first and second sealing regions is particularly advantageous if the package is used for packaging food products, such as sweets, chocolate, cookies, biscuits, gums, candies, nuts, savoury snacks, coffee beans, coffee powder etc. In this case, the resealable functionality of the package allows for the food products to be reliably protected from the surrounding atmosphere, thus increasing the storage life of the products.

The package may be configured such that it can be at least partially collapsed, i.e., folded or the like, and resealed after some of the package contents have been removed from the package.

In the third sealing region and/or the fourth sealing region, the at least two layer portions of the sheet may be at least partially adhesively joined together by a resealable adhesive, such as a pressure sensitive adhesive, e.g., cold seal. In this way, the third sealing region and/or the fourth sealing region can contribute to the resealability of the package. In particular, the provision of a resealable adhesive in the first, second, third and/or fourth sealing regions allows for an especially efficient and reliable resealing of the package.

Alternatively, in the third sealing region, the at least two layer portions of the sheet may be at least partially joined together by a heat seal, a cohesive material or the like. Further, in the fourth sealing region, the at least two layer portions of the sheet may be at least partially joined together by a resealable adhesive, such as a pressure sensitive adhesive, e.g., cold seal, by a heat seal, a cohesive material or the like.

In one embodiment, the third sealing region and/or the fourth sealing region comprises a portion arranged at an outer edge of the package and extending in the third direction, in which portion the at least two layer portions of the sheet are unattached to each other. That is, no adhesive material or other type of seal, such as a heat seal, is provided in this portion of the third sealing region and/or the fourth sealing region. Hence, this portion can serve to assist a consumer in opening the package. Specifically, the consumer may grip the unattached layer portions and pull them apart, so as to tear open at least a part of the material forming the first side of the package, thereby gaining access to the package contents. If such a portion is provided in both the third and fourth sealing regions, the package can be readily opened from both ends thereof.

At least one of the unattached layer portions of the sheet in the third sealing region and/or the fourth sealing region may at least partly be bent or curved, in order to facilitate an easy separation of the unattached layer portions from each other, thus further assisting a consumer in opening the package.

Such a bending or curvature may be obtained by providing at least one crease line or serration line on at least one side of the at least one unattached layer portion of the sheet in the third sealing region and/or the fourth sealing region. The at least one crease line or serration line may extend substantially along the third direction.

A plurality of crease lines or serration lines may be provided on at least one side of the at least one unattached layer portion of the sheet in the third sealing region and/or the fourth sealing region wherein at least one of the plurality of crease lines or serration lines may have a depth along the thickness of the sheet which is larger than the depth or depths of the other crease lines or serration lines. The at least one crease line or serration line having a larger depth may extend substantially along the third direction. Alternatively, the at least one crease line or serration line having a larger depth may extend substantially along a direction perpendicular to the third direction.

The bending or curvature of the at least one of the unattached layer portions of the sheet may be further enhanced by applying heat to the at least one crease line or serration line.

The at least one crease line or serration line may be formed by irradiation of the at least one unattached layer portion of the sheet in the third sealing region and/or the fourth sealing region with a laser beam. In this case, the power of the laser beam and/or the duration of the laser application may be controlled so as to form a desired crease line or serration line and to avoid cutting entirely through the thickness of the sheet. The bending or curvature of the at least one of the unattached layer portions of the sheet may be further enhanced by heat provided by the laser beam during the irradiation.

Alternatively, a bending or curvature of the at least one of the unattached layer portions of the sheet in the third sealing region and/or the fourth sealing region may be obtained just by applying heat to the at least one layer portion, e.g., by means of laser irradiation, without providing a crease line or serration line.

In particular, a bending or curvature of the at least one of the unattached layer portions of a sheet which is made of a flexible material, such as a plastics-based material, e.g., a flow-wrapping material, may be obtained by the provision of at least one crease line or serration line and/or the application of heat. The sheet may consist of a single layer of material or have a laminate structure, comprising a plurality of superimposed material layers.

The third sealing region and/or the fourth sealing region may comprise a portion in which the sheet is cut. Such a cut portion provides further assistance in opening the package. The cut may extend substantially along the first direction. Alternatively, instead of the cut or in combination. with the cut, a perforation and/or a score line may be provided in the third sealing region and/or the fourth sealing region.

In one embodiment, the sheet is cut only within the portion in which the at least two layer portions of the sheet are unattached to each other. Such a configuration of the third sealing region and/or the fourth sealing region allows for a particularly simple and reliable opening of the package. However, alternatively, the cut may extend beyond the portion in which the at least two layer portions of the sheet are unattached to each other. In this case, the manufacture of the package is further simplified.

Surface areas of the first and second sealing regions may constitute 30% or more, preferably 50% or more, of a surface area of the first side of the package. In this way, a particularly reliable sealing of the package can be ensured. Further, if, in each of the first and second sealing regions, the at least two layer portions of the sheet are at least partially adhesively joined together by a resealable adhesive, regions where the resealable adhesive is present may constitute 30% or more, preferably 50% or more, of the surface area of the first side of the package. In such a configuration, the package can be resealed in an especially simple manner, reliably preventing an undesired opening of the package after resealing.

The invention may be applied to packages with any kind of shapes or sizes. In one embodiment, the second side of the package has a substantially flat surface. Such a configuration of the second side provides a particularly high level of stackability, enabling the arrangement of a large number of packages on top of each other in a stably stacked manner.

The invention further provides a method for producing a package, comprising the steps of providing a sheet, folding the sheet so as to form a fold portion extending in a first direction, at least partially joining together at least two layer portions of the sheet at the fold portion so as to form a first sealing region extending in the first direction and at least partially joining together at least two layer portions of the sheet so as to form a second sealing region extending in a second direction which is substantially parallel to the first direction, so that the first and second sealing regions are spaced apart a first distance, the first and second sealing regions are arranged on a first side of the package and a second side of the package opposite to the first side is formed by a continuous portion of the sheet.

Further, the method comprises the steps of at least partially joining together at least two layer portions of the sheet so as to form a third sealing region extending in a third direction which is substantially perpendicular to the first and second directions and at least partially joining together at least two layer portions of the sheet so as to form a fourth sealing region, extending in a fourth direction which is substantially parallel to the third direction, so that the third and fourth sealing regions are spaced apart a second distance.

The method of the invention can be performed using conventional packaging equipment, such as vertical or horizontal form fill seal equipment.

The method according to the invention provides the advantageous effects already described in detail above for the package of the invention. Further, in the method of the invention, the package is formed by providing the first to fourth sealing regions in the sheet without the need to cut off and reattach portions of the sheet. Hence, no alignment of such cut off portions with the remaining packaging material has to be performed, thus considerably simplifying the manufacturing process, enabling a reduction of the production costs and eliminating the need for complicated modifications of the production equipment. Therefore, the method can be carried out at low cost and in a simple and reliable manner.

In the method according to the invention, the package can be formed of a single sheet. In this way, the manufacture of the package can be further simplified and the material consumption can be kept at a minimum.

The sheet may be made of a flexible material. Any type of flexible material may be used for the sheet. For example, the flexible material may be a film, a foil, a web or the like, e.g., made of plastic, metal, paper etc.

Alternatively, the sheet may be made of a semi-rigid or rigid material, such as cardboard, paperboard or the like.

In one embodiment, the method further comprises the step of providing a line of weakness in the sheet so that the line weakness extends in the first sealing region in the first direction. This step may be performed prior to the step of folding the sheet and/or prior to the steps of forming the first to fourth sealing regions. The line of weakness may be a perforation and/or a score line and/ox a cut extending in the first direction.

Further, in the method of the invention, the second sealing region may be formed at two substantially parallel edge portions of the sheet. In this case, the two substantially parallel edge portions of the sheet may be at least partially joined together so as to form a fin seal. In one embodiment, in each of the first and second sealing regions, the at least two layer portions of the sheet are at least partially adhesively joined together by a resealable adhesive, such as a pressure sensitive adhesive, e.g., cold seal. Moreover, in the third sealing region and/or the fourth sealing region, the at least two layer portions of the sheet may be at least partially adhesively joined together by a resealable adhesive, such as a pressure sensitive adhesive, e.g., cold seal.

The third sealing region and/or the fourth sealing region may comprise a portion arranged at an outer edge of the package and extending in the third direction, in which portion the at least two layer portions of the sheet are unattached to each other.

The method of the invention may further comprise the step of providing a cut in the sheet so that the third sealing region and/or the fourth sealing region comprises a portion in which the sheet is cut. This step may be performed prior to the step of folding the sheet and/or prior to the steps of forming the first to fourth sealing regions. The cut may extend substantially along the first direction.

In one embodiment, the sheet is cut only within the portion in which the at least two layer portions of the sheet are unattached to each other. However, alternatively, the cut may extend beyond the portion in which the at least two layer portions of the sheet are unattached to each other.

Moreover, surface areas of the first and second sealing regions may constitute 30% or more, preferably 50% or more, of a surface area of the first side of the package. The second side of the package may be formed so as to have a flat surface. Further, the package may be formed so as to be resealable.

In one embodiment, the method further comprises the step of tilting the first and second sealing regions outwards in opposite directions which are parallel to the third and fourth directions. In this way, the amount of protrusion of the first and second sealing regions from the first side of the package can be reduced, thus further enhancing the stackability of the package. The step of tilting the first and second sealing regions outwards may be performed prior to the steps of forming the third and/or fourth sealing regions. In particular, the first and second sealing regions may be tilted so as to substantially lie flat on the first side of the package.

The method of the. invention is a method for producing the package of the invention. Hence, the further features disclosed in connection with the above description of the package may also be applied to the method of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Hereinafter, non-limiting examples are explained with reference to the drawings, in which:

FIGS. 1( a) to (c) show schematic views of a package according to an embodiment of the present invention, wherein FIG. 1( a) is a perspective view of the package in a closed state, FIG. 1( b) is a perspective view of the package in a partially opened state and FIG. 1( c) is a cross-sectional view of the package shown in FIG. 1( a) in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the package;

FIGS. 2( a) and (b) show schematic views of a package according to another embodiment of the present invention, wherein FIG. 2( a) is a plan view of a sheet for forming the package before folding and FIG. 2( b) is a cross-sectional in of the folded package in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the package;

FIGS. 3( a) and (b) show schematic views of a package according to another embodiment of the present invention, wherein FIG. 3( a) is a plan view of a sheet for forming the package before folding and FIG. 3( b) is a cross-sectional view of the folded package in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the package;

FIGS. 4( a) to (d) show schematic views of a package according to yet another embodiment of the present invention, wherein FIG. 4( a) is a perspective view of the package in a closed. state, FIG. 4( b) is an enlarged view of the portion within the circle in FIG. 4( a), FIG. 4( c) is a perspective view of the package in a partially opened state and FIG. 4( d) is a cross-sectional view of the package. along the line AA shown in FIG. 4( b); and

FIGS. 5( a) to (c) show schematic views of a package according to yet another embodiment of the present invention, wherein FIGS. 5( a) and (b) are cross-sectional views of the package in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the package, illustrating a process of forming the first and second sealing regions, and FIG. 5( c) shows cross-sectional views of different package geometries.

Detailed DESCRIPTION OF CURRENTLY PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 shows schematic views of a package 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention, wherein FIG. 1( a) is a perspective view of the package 1 in a closed state, FIG. 1( b) is a perspective view of the package 1 in a partially opened state and FIG. 1( c) is a cross-sectional view of the package 1 shown in FIG. 1( a) in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the package 1.

The package 1 is formed of a sheet 10 of a flexible material, such as a film, a foil, a web or the like, e.g., made of plastic, metal, paper etc. The thickness of the sheet of the flexible material may be in a range from 0.1 to 1.0 mm, preferably 0.3 to 0.8 mm.

The package 1 comprises a first sealing region 2 extending in a first direction and a second sealing region 4 extending in a second direction, which is substantially parallel to the first direction, the first and second sealing regions 2, 4 being spaced apart a first distance. As can be seen from FIG. 1( a), the first and second directions are substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the package 1. Further, the package 1 comprises a third sealing region 6 extending in a third direction which is substantially perpendicular to the first and second directions and a fourth sealing region 8 extending in a fourth direction which is substantially parallel to the third direction, the third and fourth sealing regions 6, 8 being spaced apart a second distance. The third and fourth directions are substantially parallel to the widthwise direction of the package 1.

Each of the sealing regions 2, 4, 6, 8 comprises at least two layer portions of the sheet 10 which are adhesively joined together by a resealable adhesive 20, 20′, such as cold seal, as is schematically shown for the first and second sealing regions 2, 4 in FIG. 1( c). The first and second sealing regions 2, 4 are arranged on a first side 12 of the package 1, while a second side 14 of the package 1 opposite to the first side 12 is formed by a continuous portion of the sheet (see FIGS. 1( a) and (c)).

The second sealing region 4 is formed at two substantially parallel edge portions of the sheet 10, as can be seen from FIG. 1( c). Thus, the outer edge of the second sealing region 4 is open along the extension of the second sealing region 4 in the second direction. Further, the first sealing region 2 comprises a. line of weakness 16, such as a perforation, a score line or a cut, extending in the first direction. Hence, a strip 23 of the flexible material, extending in the first direction, is defined between the outer edge of the second sealing region 4 and the line of weakness 16 of the first sealing region 2.

When opening the package 1, this strip 23 may be partly or fully removed from the package 1 by peeling it off in the first direction, thereby providing access to the contents of the package 1. FIG. 1( b) snows the package 1 in a state in which the strip 23 has been partly removed. After opening of the package 1, the remainders of the first and second sealing regions 2, 4 assist in retaining the package contents in the package 1 (FIGS. 1( b) and (c)).

The third sealing region 6 comprises a portion 22 arranged at an outer edge of the package 1 and extending in the third direction, in which portion 22 the two layer portions of the sheet 10 are unattached to each other (FIG. 1( b)). No adhesive material is provided in this portion 22 of the third sealing region 6. Therefore, this portion 22 provides additional assistance in opening the package 1. Specifically, the unattached layer portions may be gripped by a consumer and pulled apart, so as to at least partly remove the strip 23 from the package. 1.

Due to the use of a resealable adhesive 20, 20′ in the first and second sealing regions 2, 4, the package 1 can be resealed in a. simple and reliable manner by reattaching the strip 23 of the flexible material to the remainders of the first and second sealing regions 2, 4. The third sealing region 6, which also comprises a resealable adhesive, contributes to the resealability of the package 1. Moreover, also the fourth sealing region 8 comprises a resealable adhesive. Hence, the strip 23 may be entirely removed from the package 1 and subsequently reattached in a particularly simple and reliable manner.

As is schematically shown in FIG. 1( c), the package 1 is formed of a single sheet 10 of the flexible material which is wrapped around the product to be packaged and folded at the first and second sealing regions 2, 4. Hence, the package 1 can be manufactured without cutting off and reattaching portions of the sheet 10. Therefore, no alignment of such cut off portions with the remaining packaging material has to be performed, thus considerably simplifying the manufacturing process, enabling a reduction of the production costs and eliminating the need for complicated modifications of the production equipment.

Further, sine the two substantially parallel edge portions of the sheet 10 are used to form the second sealing region 4, as is schematically shown in FIG. 1( c), the package 1 does not have any connection seams or other types of material joints on its second side 14, thereby enhancing the stackability of the package 1 and improving its optical appearance. Moreover, since the outer edge of the second sealing region 4 is open along the extension of the second sealing region 4 in the second direction, no additional line of weakness has to be provided, thus further simplifying the process of manufacturing the package 1.

FIGS. 2( a) and (b) show schematic views of a package 1′ according to another embodiment of the present invention, wherein Fag. 2(a) is a plan view of a sheet 10 for forcing the package 1′ before folding and FIG. 2( b) is a cross-sectional view of the folded package 1′ in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the package 1′. For reasons of simplicity, the same reference signs as in FIGS. 1( a) to (c) are used to denote similar or identical elements.

The package 1′ of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 2( a) and (b) differs from the package. 1 of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1( a) to (c) mainly in that it has a substantially rectangular shape in a cross-section perpendicular to its longitudinal axis (FIG. 2( b)). Hence, the second side 14 of the package 1′ has a substantially flat surface. This configuration of the second side 14 provides a particularly high level of stackability, enabling the arrangement of a large number of packages 1′ on top of each other in a stably stacked manner.

A method of manufacturing the package 1′ of this embodiment will be described in the following with reference to FIGS. 2( a) and (b). The method, can be performed using conventional packaging equipment, such as vertical or horizontal form fill seal equipment.

Prior to the steps of folding the sheet 10 and forming the first to fourth sealing regions 2, 4, 6, 8, two cuts 24, 24′ are provided in the sheet 10 so that, in the finished package 1′, each of the third and fourth sealing regions 6, 8 comprises a portion in which the sheet 10 is cut substantially along the first direction. These cuts 24, 24′ provide further assistance in opening the package 1′. In particular, the provision of the cuts 24, 24′ in the third and fourth sealing regions 6, 8 enables an easy opening of the package 1′ from both ends thereof. The cuts 24, 24′ may have a length in the range from 2 to 10 mm, preferably from 4 to 8 mm.

Further, prior to folding the sheet 10 and forming the first to fourth sealing regions 2, 4, 6, 8, a line of weakness 16 is provided in the sheet 10 so that, in the finished package 1′, the line of weakness 16 extends in the first sealing region 2 in the first direction (FIGS. 2( a) and 2(b)). The line of weakness 16 may be a perforation and/or a score line and/or a out extending in the first direction. Moreover, the portions of the sheet 10 which are marked by hatching in FIG. 2( a) are provided with a layer of a resealable adhesive 21. In the finished package 1′, this layer 21 forms the resealable adhesive layers 20, 20′ in the first to fourth sealing regions 2, 4, 6, 8.

As can be seen from FIG. 2( a), two portions 22, 22′ of the sheet 10 are left devoid of the adhesive layer 21. These portions 22, 22′ provide additional assistance in opening the finished package 1′ in the manner described above for the embodiment of FIGS. 1( a) to (c). The cuts 24, 24′ are arranged so that, in the finished package 1′, they are provided within the portions 22, 22′, respectively.

The products 30 to be packaged, such as biscuits, gums, candies, chocolate or the like, are placed on the sheet 10, as is schematically shown in FIG. 2( a). Subsequently, the sheet 10 is folded along a plurality of folding lines 28 into the configuration shown in FIG. 2( b). In this folding process, the line of weakness 16 also serves as a folding line 28, so that, in the finished package 1′, the line of weakness 16 is arranged at the outer edge of the first sealing region 2 (FIG. 2( b).

After the folding step, pressure is applied to the first to fourth sealing regions 2, 4, 6, 8 so as to adhesively join together the respective two layer portions of the sheet 10 in each of these regions 2, 4, 6, 8, thereby completing the manufacturing process of the package 1′.

FIGS. 3( a) and (b) show schematic views of a package 1″ according to yet another embodiment of the present invention, wherein FIG. 3( a) is a plan view of a sheet 10 for forming the package 1″ before folding and FIG. 3( b) is a cross-sectional view of the folded package 1″ in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the package 1″. For reasons of simplicity, the same reference signs as in FIGS. 1( a) to (c), 2(a) and 2(b) are used to denote similar or identical elements.

The package 1″ of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 3( a) and (b) differs from the package 1′ of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 2( a) and (b) only in its size and the number of products 30 contained therein. As has been discussed above, the package of the invention may be used for packaging any type of liquid or solid materials irrespective of the shapes or sizes of the materials.

FIGS. 4( a) to (d) show schematic views of a package 100 according to yet another embodiment of the present invention, wherein FIG. 4( a) is a perspective view of the package 100 in a closed state, FIG. 4( b) is an enlarged view of the portion within the circle in FIG. 4( a), FIG. 4( c) is a perspective view of the package 100 in a partially opened state and FIG. 4( d) is a cross-sectional view of the package. 100 along the line A-A shown in FIG. 4( b). For reasons of simplicity, the same reference signs as in FIGS. 1( a) to 3(b) are used to denote. similar or identical elements.

The package 100 of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 4( a) to (d) differs from the packages 1, 1′, 1″ of the embodiments shown in FIGS. 1( a) to 3(b) mainly in that the first and second sealing regions 2, 4 extend in a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the package 100. Moreover, as is schematically shown in FIGS. 4( b) and (d), the first and second sealing regions 2, 4 comprise six and four layer portions of the sheet 10, respectively, In this way, the rigidity of the first and second sealing regions 2, 4 is enhanced, thereby adding further stability to the structure of the package 100. Such a configuration is particularly advantageous if sensitive products 30, which may be easily damaged, are to be packaged. As is indicated in FIG. 4( d), only the two innermost layer portions of the sheet 10 may be adhesively joined together by a resealable adhesive 20, 20′, such as cold seal, in the first and second sealing regions 2, 4. However, alternatively, more than two, e.g., three, four, five or six, layer portions may be adhesively joined together. In this way, the stability of the package 100 can be further enhanced,

FIGS. 5( a) to (c) show schematic views of a package 1′″ according to yet another embodiment of the present invention, wherein FIGS. 5( a) and (b) are cross-sectional views of the package in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the package 1″′, illustrating a process of forming the first and second sealing regions 2, 4, and FIG. 5( c) shows cross-sectional views of different possible package geometries. For reasons of simplicity, the same reference signs as in FIGS. 1( a) to 4(d) are used to denote similar or identical elements.

The package 1″′ of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 5( a) to (c) differs from the package 1 of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1( a) to (c) mainly in that the first distance between the first and second sealing regions 2, 4 is significantly smaller (see FIGS. 1( c) and 5(c)). In this way, after opening of the package 1″′ the remainders of the first and second sealing regions 2, 4 assist in retaining the package contents in the package 1′″ in a particularly efficient and reliable manner. In particular, these remainders have to be moved apart from each other in the third direction by a consumer in order to enable removal of the package contents.

As has been discussed above, the present invention may be applied to packages with any kind of shapes or sizes. For example, the packages may have a substantially circular, square, rectangular or triangular shape in a cross-section perpendicular to the first direction, as is schematically shown in FIG. 5( c).

The packages 1″′ shown in FIG. 5( c) are in a state in which the first and second sealing regions 2, 4 have been fully tilted outwards in opposite directions parallel to the third and fourth directions. In this way, the first sides 12 of these packages 1″′ are provided with a substantially flat surface, further enhancing the stackability of the packages 1″′.

Moreover, the at least two layer portions in the first to fourth sealing regions 2, 4, 6, 8 may be joined together using any suitable type of method or material, such as heat welding, cohesive materials, adhesive materials, such as a pressure sensitive adhesive, e.g., cold seal, or the like. An example of adhesively joining two layer portions of the sheet 10 together by a resealable adhesive 20, 20′ in the first and second sealing regions 2, 4 using a pair of rollers 40 is shown in the cross-sectional views of FIGS. 5( a) and (b).

Specifically, the first and second sealing regions 2, 4 may be separately inserted into a nip formed between the pair of rollers 40 (FIG. 5( a)). In this case, pressure is applied by the rollers 40 to each of the first and second sealing regions 2, 4, so as to adhesively join together the respective two layer portions of the sheet 10 in each of these regions 2, 4.

Alternatively, the first and second sealing regions 2, 4 may be inserted into the nip together (FIG. 5( b)). In this configuration, the pressure is simultaneously applied to both of the first and second sealing regions 2, 4. 

1. A package formed of a sheet, the package comprising a first sealing region extending in a first direction and a second sealing region extending in a second direction which is substantially parallel to the first direction, the first and second sealing regions being spaced apart a first distance, a third sealing region extending in a third direction which is substantially perpendicular to the first and second directions and a fourth sealing region extending in a fourth direction which is substantially parallel to the third direction, the third and fourth sealing regions being spaced apart a second distance, wherein two or more of the sealing regions each comprise at least two layer portions of the sheet which are at least partially joined together, the first and second sealing regions are arranged on a first side of the package and a second side of the package opposite to the first side is formed by a continuous portion of the sheet.
 2. The package according to claim 1, wherein the first sealing region further comprises a line of weakness extending in the first direction.
 3. The package according to claim 2, wherein the line of weakness is a perforation and/or a score line and/or a cut extending in the first direction.
 4. The package according to claim 1, wherein the second sealing region is formed at two substantially parallel edge portions of the sheet.
 5. The package according to claim 4, wherein the two substantially parallel edge portions of the sheet are at least partially joined together so as to form a fin seal.
 6. The package according to an claim 1, wherein, in each of the first and second sealing regions, the at least two layer portions of the sheet are at least partially adhesively joined together by a resealable adhesive.
 7. The package according to a claim 1, wherein, in the third sealing region and/or the fourth sealing region, the at least two layer portions of the sheet are at least partially adhesively joined together by a resealable adhesive.
 8. The package according to claim 1, wherein the third sealing region and/or the fourth sealing region comprises a portion arranged at an outer edge of the package and extending in the third direction, in which portion the at least two layer portions of the sheet are unattached to each other.
 9. The package according to claim 1, wherein the third sealing region and/or the fourth sealing region comprises a portion in which the sheet is cut.
 10. The package according to claim 9, wherein the sheet is cut only within the portion in which the at least two layer portions of the sheet are unattached to each other.
 11. The package according to claim 1, wherein surface areas of the first and second sealing regions constitute 50% or more of a surface area of the first side of the package.
 12. The package according to claim 1, wherein the second side of the package has a flat surface.
 13. The package according to claim 1, wherein the package is resealable.
 14. The package according to claim 1, wherein the sheet is made of a flexible material.
 15. A method for producing a package, comprising the steps of providing a sheet, folding the sheet so as to form a fold portion extending in a first direction, at least partially joining together at least two layer portions of the sheet at the fold portion so as to form a first sealing region extending in the first direction, at least partially joining together at least two layer portions of the sheet so as to form a second sealing region extending in a second direction which is substantially parallel to the first direction, so that the first and second sealing regions are spaced apart a first distance, the first and second sealing regions are arranged on a first side of the package and a second side of the package opposite to the first side is formed by a continuous portion of the sheet, at least partially joining together at least two layer portions of the sheet so as to form a third sealing region extending in a third direction which is substantially perpendicular to the first and second directions and at least partially joining together at least two layer portions of the sheet so as to form a fourth sealing region extending in a fourth direction which is substantially parallel to the third direction, so that the third and fourth sealing regions are spaced apart a second distance.
 16. The method according to claim 15, further comprising the step of providing a line of weakness in the sheet so that the line of weakness extends in the first sealing region in the first direction.
 17. The method according to claim 16, wherein the line of weakness is a perforation and/or a score line and/or a cut extending in the first direction.
 18. The method according to claim 15, wherein the second sealing region is formed at two substantially parallel edge portions of the sheet.
 19. The method according to claim 18, wherein the two substantially parallel edge portions of the sheet are at least partially joined together so as to form a fin seal.
 20. The method according to claim 15, wherein, in each of the first and second sealing regions, the at least two layer portions of the sheet are at least partially adhesively joined together by a resealable adhesive.
 21. The method according to claim 15, wherein, in the third sealing region and/or the fourth sealing region, the at least two layer portions of the sheet are at least partially adhesively joined together by a resealable adhesive.
 22. The method according to claim 15, wherein the third sealing region and/or the fourth sealing region comprises a portion arranged at an outer edge of the package and extending in the third direction, in which portion the at least two layer portions of the sheet are unattached to each other.
 23. The method according to claim 15, further comprising the step of providing a cut in the sheet so that the third sealing region and/or the fourth sealing region comprises a portion in which the sheet is cut.
 24. The method according to claim 23, wherein the sheet is cut only within the portion in which the at least two layer portions of the sheet are unattached to each other.
 25. The method according to claim 15, wherein surface areas of the first and second sealing regions constitute 50% or more of a surface area of the first side of the package.
 26. The method according to claim 15, wherein the second side of the package is formed so as to have a flat surface.
 27. The method according to claim 15, wherein the package is formed so as to be resealable.
 28. The method according to claim 15, further comprising the step of tilting the first and second sealing regions outwards in opposite directions which are parallel to the third and fourth directions.
 29. The method according to claim 15, wherein the sheet is made of a flexible material. 30-31. (canceled) 